MFP food database: Same food, different calories?

It can be annoying.

I tend to take what it says on the packet over what's in the Database already as people can sometimes make errors when adding their own foods and sharing them with the rest of the community.

Sometimes I just add the food as a new item in the database, even if it already appears.

i mostly get confused on stuff that i dont have a box or place with the calories. sometimes i just pick the one closest to what i think it is and sometimes i am scared i pick the wrong one.

When it comes to salmon the biggest difference is if it is wild caught or farmed salmon. The farmed salmon has a much higher fat content so you have a higher calorie count. The farmed salmon also has more chemicals because of the manufactured feed they are given (including red dye for meat coloration). If you look at the skin between the two the skin on the farmed salmon is thicker, it has a bit of extra fat between the skin and the meat, and it is easier to pierce. The wild caught salmon skin is thinner, but tougher, it is harder to pierce. The only way to find out which one you have is to ask. Unless you live close to an area where salmon is caught fresh, you probably have the farmed salmon. When you look at the frozen salmon the package will point out if it is wild caught or not. If it doesn't say, assume it is the farmed.

Yes, the asterisk seems to be added to any user submitted nutritional info, so when adding something to my meals I always look for one not marked with *,

Plus I always try to pick the raw selection if its there, because my fried eggs might be different from someone else. My using my cast iron pan that just needs proper preheating to be non stick means no oil/butter needed but they may have accounted for a dash of oil changing the calorie count. Same with steaks and that I take mine out of the butcher wrap and straight to the pan, no marinating or anything so I'll take raw format for a 6 oz steak.